New Above-Ground Pool?

[JoshU]

As CarlD said $5000 even for a top of the line pool with some accessories is getting pretty high. Is this including decking?

Josh

[vinnygnj]

My pool cost about $5,000 about 5 years ago. The pool itself was $2,100 but the excavation, electric, safety ladder, liner installation and associated landscaping (which I didn't do much at all).

It gets expensive when the "standard" excavation doesn't happen. They charge by the inch and for me 3" was included in the liner install price but they had to go down 14" on one side. As a matter of fact - most things about my install wasn't "standard" - electrical was more, ladder was more and the final price came out to $5,000. I think originally our idea was about $3,500

Our opinion is - water is water - and this was a lot cheaper than the possible $20,000 or more for an IG pool. Although this site is full of pool lovers, we also figured that an AG pool is a lot cheaper to get rid of if and when we sell the house or decide we no longer want the pool. I remember looking at houses with IG pools and thinking "great - I need to take care of a pool" (sarcastic tone!!).

[CarlD]

I think it was Ben who found that A/G pool owners tend to get far more use ON AVERAGE than I/G pool owners. I/G pool owners don't have much choice--filling in a pool is expensive, so they maintain it, even if they don't use it. But A/G owners, if they don't use their pool, they get rid of it in a New York Minute. It's just not that hard to take down a circular or oval A/G. Some rectangulars (like Splash) come down really quickly as well.

I still think that $5000 for an 18' round AG is excessive unless most of that is in prepping a level area.

[kevkline]

I didn't check into the cost of rounds, but I just bought a 15x30 oval and it cost $4500 just for the pool, pump, vacuum, etc....Still going to cost another $1100 for installation plus $595 for electric.....

I guess it all depends on the manufacturer / model you choose. I could have gotten the same "size" pool ranging from $2000 - $6000 depending on walls, top rails, liner, etc....

[csevel]

The pool itself with pump, winter/solar covers, vacuum, pole, hoses, thermometer, deluxe ladder, leaf net, min. chems, & some video will be in the neighborhood of $3,000. The excavation will be about $600 and the deck will probably take up the rest of the $5000. The pool itself is an 18' round Artesian Echo Canyon 54" deep. Nice 9-1/2" top rails and uprights. Its steel but has resin track. I'm sure I could find a comparable pool online..shipped for free with no sales tax. But who do you call if you have a problem?? If a part is missing on shipment...what do I tell the installer? Come back next week!? I think the price isn't too out of the ballpark considering everything.

[CarlD]

Well, truly the bottom line is if you are happy. Sounds like you are getting a lot of pool for an 18' pool, and, yes, there are cheaper alternatives. But if it's what YOU want and fills your needs and you are happy--well, that's the whole ball-game, isn't it?

[NWMNMom]

Our pool/pump/filter system was just under $4000 with the winter cover solar cover and solar panel delivered. My biggest issue was that there were more uprights/shorter distance and size/strength of them for support, decent top rail and the corrosion resistance of the bottom rail (resin or aluminum - ours aluminum) as well as good liner and total warranty. Went with a buttress free.

All the ground prep will be around another $500-$700 (could have been more if we didn't own some of our own heavy equipment) THAT we want to make sure is right.

[slowtan]

I think she is getting an ok deal.

I bought my 18' Vougue 100% resin pool last year for $3200 installed.
I came w/DE filter, 1 speed 1 HP pump , baracuda , basic chemicals , and everything you listed. I didn't get a deck which could be anywhere from $1000-$2500 depending on size and features .. lights , power , plumbing.

If they are running power for you and maybe putting a faucit close to the pumps so you can put an auto-fill on it, then you are getting a great deal but I still don't think $5,000 is that much.

Looking back I wish I would have gotten the 2 speed pump but I am happy I upgraded for a DE filter over the sand and happy I upgraded for the hard-bottom floor. My slope in my yard was 10" so they charged me extra for that too.

Stephen